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Try and take it easy I know you are desperate for your appointment but they are good at changing dates.

It is very easy to argue going through this believe me I know the last two times we went to get the eggs back in I have been in tears just with the total stress and pressure, as a young couple we have NEVER had to experiance anything so demanding and stressfull even fallen out over him having a can of larger!!!!

Hi everyone!Have just joined today.Me and my hubby have just been referred to Raigmore for the initial fertility consultation...can anyone tell me roughly what will happen at the first appointment?
Thanks
Donna
xxxx

Your first consultation will be with either doc Caird or doc Oswagi (may have spelt wrong).

The nurse will prob take your height and weight before you see the con.

They are likely to go over details such as how long you have been TTC, past medical history, weight, smoking and drinking habits etc.

They will also discuss the initial tests you have done by your GP (i imagine bloods and perhaps SA).

Depending on what those tests showed up they will discuss further tests - maybe more bloods and scan / HSG / SA etc.

They will prob schedule you in for another appointment for a time following these tests to determine next steps.

Dont worry too much about this appointment, its quite straightforward and they are very good at answering questions, may be useful to write down what questions you have as can be a bit overwhelming when in con office (i used to forget what i wanted to ask).

They are all really nice and you will be given details of the fertility clinic phone number - an answer phone service where you phone up and leave your details and any questions and usually Jenni (the clinic sister) phones back.

How long ago where you referred? - for me and DH it was about 3.5 months from GP referrel to appointment

raigmore are lovely people dr caird takes time to explain whats going on and whats going to happen, as previos person said make sure you write down things before hand as emotions can make you forget things!
got my nxt app for aberdeen in nov so things are go go go!

Im on waiting list for IVF at Aberdeen and expect to start tx between Mar - Jun next year (hopefully).

Can anyone tell me how many visits to the hospital per tx cycle are required?

Im live approx 3 hours from Aberdeen so will need to take full days off work for all apps and im currently trying to work out how many days holiday to carry for next year and how much time in leiu to work to help reduce number of unpaid leave days i will need.

im also unsure how often i need to be off work. got told by someone that you will be able to get bloods done at inverness, but anything else (scans etc), you will have to go to aberdeeni live over 4hrs away, and not looking forward to all the driving. cant really afford to fly there and back all the time. doesnt help that DP works away my initial consultation wasnt so good an experience. travelled all that distance to only be there for approx 30mins. was told i needed IVF (which i already knew), took blood, had a scan, and off home again.

Hi girls.Hope you all ok.Rung Raigmore this morning and they said as soon as they recieve the letter from GP then they will pass it on to consultant who will get a questionnaire sent out to us.Any idea what kinda things its gonna have on it?
Donna
xxx

no idea. when i spoke to him the other day, he told me he might only be off for a week. well i went mad!! if he only went for a week, we could have been for our appointment. so fingers crossed he aint home this friday!!! his work are pathetic, they keep chopping and changing their minds.

anyways, so you phoned today. i think the clinic are fed up with me as i left a message on friday, and no-body has phoned back.

raigmore can be a bit slow at phoning back i think sometimes your best to keep phoning till someone answers! glad i don't go to raigmore anymore as didnt feel they took me seriously i was only 20 when i was refered there and felt "age" was a big deal to them.
sorry bout the rant but had to say.

Im not sure usually they are pretty understanding and will try and arrange something to suit both you and them, think the reception is only open mon tue wed and from what i know mondays are really busy.

Im on the waiting list for IVF at Aberdeen and starting to struggle with the whole 'not doing anything'. For the last 3.5 yrs its been trying, tests, clomid - now nothing, i know i cant conceive naturally, so struggling for focus. Usually i would turn to work but for first time in my life im not interested in putting work before health (too stressful a job).

Has anyone else gone through this and any advice?

My only thought was to diet - to get to the so called optimum BMI of 22 for IVF, but to be honest im too down to diet. Did ok yesterday but so down today i succumed to the very not tasty and too fattening canteen food at work.

janeplease dont let things get you down. i know the feeling of not doing anything. i sooo want to be seeing someone, going for appointments etc but nothing now until end of next month. its horrible knowing each month AF is going to appear, even tho u cant help holding out for a miracle each month that FINALLY you'll get a youre certainly not alone in this situation, and im sure others will be along to tell you the sameive been dieting since last year, lost 2stone, but now im stuck. could do with losing another stone but have no motivation. my friend joined the same time as me and got to her target weight ages ago!!! delighted for her tho, but wished it was me. stuck to diet all week last week, and put ON 2lbs

jane i know how you are feeling before i started ivf treatment i struggled so badly some days i didnt even want to get out of bed and just wanted to cry. i lost interest in everything work, going out with friends and everything. i know it is so hard only thing you can do is try have some PMA it really does help. Also i found some day si forced myself to go out a walk and seriously i found this helped.

loads of love to you

hi to everyone else on here

lots of love natalie

IVF 1 AUG 08 BFN
FET FEB 09 BFN
IVF 2 MAY 09 BFN BLEEDING 6 DAYS BEFORE TEST DAYWE ARE HAVING A BREAK FROM IVF FOR NOW

I know everything has the same feelings of frustration at 'not doing anything', its just so hard knowing that theres no chance of a and not being able to do anything about it.

Just willing the time to go by for IVF to start - strangely the first time i have been looking forawrd to being a year older

Natalie - i did go for a walk today and found it helped (even it was just around my work building), think the sun helped.

Andrea - i know how hard it is to loose weight, i got to my ww goal during our first 18 moths ttc, but with all the stress of tests, and new job and moving house twice, and clomid i put loads back on, have lost a stone but trying to loose more before IVF but finding it hard. It is so annoying when try so hard but put weight on.

Im now going to try hard for PMA PMA - am on holiday from work from Thursday so hoping that will help give me more PMA.

I am feeling better today - finished work yesterday for a week and 2 days off.
Didnt manage on line yesterday as late in work trying to finish loads of things - im telling you prepping for a holiday from work means you really really need the break.

Im full of PMA that some time off work will help me to feel better - its been a tough year so far for me and DH with the clomid not working (or rather not making me work), so some relaxing time will be fab.

Andrea - how are you feeling now following having to postpone your app? hope your feeling better, not too long now til your new app date.

How is everyone else doing today?

xxx

TTC 4 yrs
Me - 32 yrs, DH - 32 yrs
clomid then IVF

1st IVF Apr 09

This post has been edited 1 times, last edit by "Wee Janey" (Sep 4th 2008, 11:01am)

Hi everyone.Hope you are all ok.Finaly got my Fertility Questionnaire through the post today!woo!Its already back in the post on its way to raigmore!The lovely lady i spoke to said that they im to get the first appointment done within 12-18 weeks,but heres hoping for a BFP before that!
Donna
xxxxxxxxx

How was your appointment on the 8th? that was my birthday hahahahah I am on day 5 of stimms and they harder then I thought I thought it would be a breeze but its gotten much better have my scan on Tuesday.

dont know if this is directed at me but i didnt make my appointment on the 8th. DP had to go offshore so we cancelled. been on cancellation list last week, and we got to phone on tuesday to see if we can get appt this week. if not then we wait to 20th october. its ok tho as DP goes offshore on friday and when he comes home, the appt is a few days away.

Thought I'd drop in here as I've got 1st appointment at Aberdeen next week. How do you all find it there? The girls on the phone sound really nice (helps!). After several blood tests it seems I've got low progesterone so my GP thinks they'll give me Clomid. Do you think thats likely at a first visit?

It depends on what other tests you have had done as to when they prescribe clomid. My GP referred me to Raigmore following low progesterone etc blood results but did a load of other tests before i got clomid such as DH SA was repeated (although this was because his first one was at a diff hospital cause we moved), i had an HSG, ultrasound and more bloods.

I think all hospitals are different but if your only result shows low progesterone they may want to rule out anything else just in case.

I've had 6 blood tests over the last few weeks to try and catch the right time, as my cycles are pretty irregular. Highest progesterone was 18 so far. DH had SA at Aberdeen a few weeks ago and all is well - so hopefully he won't need to repeat it. I think I'm just desperate to get Tx started asap so will chill out and try to be patient!